Easy romp gives Aces q’final seat

Game today (Davao City)

5 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Meralco

Games tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

3 p.m. – Barako Bull vs Kia

5:15 p.m. – San Miguel vs Ginebra

MANILA, Philippines - Calvin Abueva kept on putting up a topnotch performance and Eric Menk ably filled in for the injury-hit Sonny Thoss as Alaska Milk rolled past Blackwater, 69-56, for an early quarterfinals passage in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Abueva, one of only five players averaging double-double numbers in the tourney, sustained his fiery form, grabbing 18 rebounds and scoring 13 points while Menk put in his own double-double numbers of 14 markers and 13 caroms as Alaska stayed perfect halfway through the one-round-robin eliminations.

The Aces improved to 6-0 while the Elite stayed in the hunt for an elusive first win in the pros, reeling with a sixth straight loss.

Meanwhile, Rain or Shine, winning four of its last five games, seeks to sustain its hot charge, going for solo fourth place against Meralco at 5 p.m. today in the Davao City stop of the Petron Blaze PBA on Tour.

The Elasto Painters are favored against the Meralco team which they beat six in seven matches last season.

“We’re happy with the start, but we still have a long way to go. It’s how you finish. That’s really what’s important,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton, wary the other teams would figure out how to stop them later on.

“Like every team in the league, we have things to improve on. Our best weapon at the moment is our defense,” Compton also said.

With their pressing defense, the Aces limited the Elite to a 30-percent field shooting and a season second-lowest output of 56 points.

Struggling on offense, the Aces nearly squandered a 17-point spread with the Elite threatening at 44-49.

But the Aces responded quickly, again tightening up on defense and again posting a commanding lead at 65-44.

PJ Simon, James Yap and Joe Devance combined for 58 points and the Purefoods Hotshots played tough together on the defensive end as they ripped the NLEX Road Warriors, 92-76, in the other game.

“We needed to win that game, and the guys played like they really wanted to win the game. We’re at 2-3, but we can look at that winning two of our last three games. Hopefully, we can make it three-of-four, and go on,” said Purefoods coach Tim Cone.

RJ Jazul rifled in a booming trey then Chris Exciminiano came up with a three-point play off a steal, sparking Alaska’s fourth-quarter pull-away.

Larry Rodriguez, with 10 points on 5-of-11 shooting, was the lone Blackwater player to log a double-digit output.

JP Erram and Ogie Menor added nine points each for the Elite who narrowly avoided matching the season low of 55 owned by Kia in a 22-point blowout by Barangay Ginebra.

Even minus Thoss who’s nursing a heel injury, the Aces outrebounded the Elite, 62-51, and blasted Blackwater, 36-16, on points in the paint.   

The scores:

First Game

Alaska 69 – Menk 14, Abueva 13, Manuel 10, Banchero 6, Baguio 6, Hontiveros 6, Casio 4, Eximiano 3, Jazul 3, Bugia 2, Dela Cruz 0, Eman 0, Dela Rosa 0.

Blackwater 56 – Rodriguez 10, Erram 9, Menor 9, Gamalinda 5, Salvacion 5, Artadi 4, Timberlake 3, Tiongson 3, Faundo 2, Nuyles 2, Ballesteros 2, Laure 2, Celis 0, Cawaling 0.

Quarterscores: 15-9; 32-20; 46-38; 69-56

Second Game

Purefoods 92 – Simon 20, Yap 19, Devance 19, Taha 7, Melton 6, Mallari 6, Barroca 5, Pingris 4, Maliksi 4, Reavis 2, Allado 0.

NLEX 76 – Taulava 21, Cardona 11, Ramos 10, Borboran 9, J Villanueva 7, R Villanueva 7, Camson 5, H Arboleda 3, Baloria 2, Apinan 1, Raymundo 0, Canaleta 0, W Arboleda 0.

Quarterscores: 25-18; 50-37; 66-50; 92-76